Is there any country you would not go to even if you were paid to go there?

whisky_galore · 13-06-2021 02:04PM

Genre.. wrote: »

Papa New Guinea

Anything I read or hear about the place is bad

From what I hear tribes and/or gangs robbing and/or kicking the sh1t out of one another and bunches of hardened ex-pats living in secure compounds.

13-06-2021 02:21PM

john123470 wrote: »

From my time in M /east, Saudi, Qatar etc, I met lots of active gay people - even moreso because womens' freedom to mingle was so restricted in these places. Homosexuality was rife. Again, discretion is key '.

Haven’t been to the gulf states, but Tel Aviv in Israel is a gay Mecca. Was only there for a short while but was pleasantly surprised by how tolerant it is towards the gay community.

Rainbow flags were pretty prevalent and I saw far more gay couples (mostly male) being openly affectionate in public than I’ve ever seen in Dublin. Definitely a place worth checking out if you’re gay.

whomitconcerns · 13-06-2021 02:42PM

I've done Israel, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Egypt. Would love to go to Iran and some of the others. Israel would be lowest on the list to return due to the political views of the average person there. Country is cool though

Thing you have to accept is that there will be cultural aspects you dislike/hate/fear. But there will be others that you will never see the like anywhere else, in a positive sense.

I would go to North Korea if allowed also. Even as bad as it is. People make do...

poisonated · 13-06-2021 02:44PM

john123470 wrote: »

Saudis consider the 'receiver' of the homosexual act to be gay and culpable, not the 'giver'.

That’s interesting. I don’t mean to go off topic but I wonder if that means that a guy who was raped can be prosecuted.

13-06-2021 02:46PM

poisonated wrote: »

That’s interesting. I don’t mean to go off topic but I wonder if that means that a guy who was raped can be prosecuted.

Saudi is all sorts of fooked up

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/nov/17/saudiarabia.international

Rape victim sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in jail

"laws" written to suit feudal inbreds

Rebel_Kn1ght · 13-06-2021 02:48PM

Japan/Ukraine/Australia

whomitconcerns · 13-06-2021 02:53PM

glasso wrote: »

Saudi is all sorts of fooked up

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/nov/17/saudiarabia.international

"laws" written to suit feudal inbreds

This is true and of course, terrible, i agree. But they also have one of the largest fountains in the world and some magnificent palaces in Riyadh. Just the experience being a foreign non Muslim there is unique!

Sadler Peak · 13-06-2021 02:56PM

India / Pakistan. Most of Africa.

barney shamrock · 13-06-2021 02:56PM

India, even pre-covid.

Tchaikovsky · 13-06-2021 02:58PM

whomitconcerns wrote: »

I've done Israel, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Egypt. Would love to go to Iran and some of the others. Israel would be lowest on the list to return due to the political views of the average person there. Country is cool though

Thing you have to accept is that there will be cultural aspects you dislike/hate/fear. But there will be others that you will never see the like anywhere else, in a positive sense.

I would go to North Korea if allowed also. Even as bad as it is. People make do...

You'd need to wait for a new passport though as you wouldn't be allowed into Iran with an Israeli stamp, no?

I was due to visit the US a month after going to Iran so needed to apply for a US visa as it's on their banned list. Fortunately it was straightforward enough with no intrusive questions!

jmreire · 13-06-2021 03:30PM

barneygumble99 wrote: »

Anywhere with snakes that can kill you after they lose in hide and seek.

Liberia wont suit you so.....there's one area called Mamba Point after the Black Mamba snakes that frequent it.... but aside from the snakes, It's OK......:D

john123470 · 13-06-2021 03:33PM

poisonated wrote: »

That’s interesting. I don’t mean to go off topic but I wonder if that means that a guy who was raped can be prosecuted.

Nothing is ruled out in the Magick Kingdom

13-06-2021 03:46PM

whomitconcerns wrote: »

This is true and of course, terrible, i agree. But they also have one of the largest fountains in the world and some magnificent palaces in Riyadh. Just the experience being a foreign non Muslim there is unique!

couldn't stomach giving the Saudis a cent

will never go there

that MBS is like inbred evil arrogant bastard incarnate

john123470 · 13-06-2021 03:47PM

Hamachi wrote: »

Haven’t been to the gulf states, but Tel Aviv in Israel is a gay Mecca. Was only there for a short while but was pleasantly surprised by how tolerant it is towards the gay community.

Rainbow flags were pretty prevalent and I saw far more gay couples (mostly male) being openly affectionate in public than I’ve ever seen in Dublin. Definitely a place worth checking out if you’re gay.

I'm not gay but if you have leads on any loose women .. i'm here on standby ... awaiting your instructions

whomitconcerns · 13-06-2021 04:19PM

Tchaikovsky wrote: »

You'd need to wait for a new passport though as you wouldn't be allowed into Iran with an Israeli stamp, no?

I was due to visit the US a month after going to Iran so needed to apply for a US visa as it's on their banned list. Fortunately it was straightforward enough with no intrusive questions!

Funny thing was the first time I went to Israel was 2 weeks before I went to Saudi. But they don't stamp your passport in tel Aviv, same as in Havana. Just give you a bit of paper. I had 5 stamps for Egypt in my passport due to work and they were VERY interested in that though.. Actually missed my flight due to security questioning

13-06-2021 05:19PM

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Funny thing was the first time I went to Israel was 2 weeks before I went to Saudi. But they don't stamp your passport in tel Aviv, same as in Havana. Just give you a bit of paper. I had 5 stamps for Egypt in my passport due to work and they were VERY interested in that though.. Actually missed my flight due to security questioning

I didn't have any issues. Went through Egypt, Jordan, Iran, and then Israel about 6 years ago, all during the same holiday period. Some raised eyebrows but no real examination of what I'd been doing in any of the countries. I've been back to Israel twice since then, and Iran, once more.

Absolutely, loved both Israel and Iran. Neither are really like how they're described abroad. Spent most of the time around the various universities, and had a blast. People were lovely, and I don't think I met anyone who was rude.

I've met a lot of people (expats living China) since then who have been to both countries, and everyone seems to have their own perspective, positive or negative. They're both countries that people seem to either love or hate. Little space for a middle ground viewpoint.

Lockheed · 13-06-2021 05:20PM

Israel

13-06-2021 05:23PM

As for where not to go, Mexico, and a variety of the South American countries. Just far too dodgy for me.

Itssoeasy · 13-06-2021 05:34PM

archer22 wrote: »

The Netherlands..most pig ignorant place I ever encountered.

Anywhere in the middle east with the exception of Iran.

Really ? Well whatever version of failte Ireland they have in the Netherlands, they’ve done a great PR job. I’ve never heard of this about the Dutch.

Signore Fancy Pants · 13-06-2021 05:42PM

jmreire wrote: »

Liberia wont suit you so.....there's one area called Mamba Point after the Black Mamba snakes that frequent it.... but aside from the snakes, It's OK......:D

Ah Mamba Point, haven't heard that in years.

Montage of Feck · 13-06-2021 05:49PM

Esho wrote: »

I would think long and hard about going to Russia, if I was being paid to go there.
Never met a Russian who wasn't racist or sexy, reminds me of hiw the Brits used to think about the Irish pre- Riverdance.

.

jmreire · 13-06-2021 06:19PM

Signore Fancy Pants wrote: »

Ah Mamba Point, haven't heard that in years.

Are you sorry???? Do you miss it?

13-06-2021 06:22PM

There is literally no country I wouldn't visit, there are some im not so interested in, and a few I wouldn't care to go back to, but I love to see new places.
I think covid has actually made me more interested in going places i used to have no interest in!

Arturo Delgado · 13-06-2021 06:25PM

Egypt. Once was enough. The history is fantastic but you can't enjoy it for the begging and hawking. Cairo was a culture shock.

Surreptitious · 13-06-2021 06:26PM

bubblypop wrote: »

There is literally no country I wouldn't visit, there are some im not so interested in, and a few I wouldn't care to go back to, but I love to see new places.
I think covid has actually made me more interested in going places i used to have no interest in!

Agreed. I'd go anywhere, especially if it was going to be free!

breezy1985 · 13-06-2021 06:41PM

bubblypop wrote: »

It's not all like that, I haven't been to Doha, so I can't comment, but in Dubai they say you cannot live together if you're not married, in reality it happens.

I was hearing this from the guy offering the job. Thought it was an odd sales pitch

chosen1 · 13-06-2021 06:44PM

Itssoeasy wrote: »

Really ? Well whatever version of failte Ireland they have in the Netherlands, they’ve done a great PR job. I’ve never heard of this about the Dutch.

I've never heard it either or experienced it in my 10 or 12 visits to various parts of the Netherlands.

Reminds me of a pig ignorant lad went to college with me who proclaimed that a particular country hated the Irish as they hated him on his visit there.

For me it would probably be some of the African countries such as Nigeria who have severe levels of poverty, wealthy elites, corruption, crime and no major cultural or geographical attractions.

I'd have similar concerns about India having visited a neighbouring country with similar levels of poverty and it was awful seeing it in person. Donated to charities over there but felt helpless walking around as a relatively rich westerner. I would however love to see some of the attractions there so hoping the plight of people improves there and I can visit it in the future.

Signore Fancy Pants · 13-06-2021 06:45PM

jmreire wrote: »

Are you sorry???? Do you miss it?

I had Christmas dinner in Mamba Point hotel. Twas awful :pac:

breezy1985 · 13-06-2021 06:47PM

JupiterKid wrote: »

As a gay man, I have to also be mindful of deeply anti-gay and homophobic countries where I and my OH could be arrested and jailed for sharing a hotel bedroom etc.

So that rules out most of Africa and practically all of the Middle East. No way am I going to give these countries my hard-earned money just to facilitate them persecuting and oppressing their own women and sexual minorities.

And Northern Ireland if you are trying to buy a cake.

It must be horrible having to Google which countries want you dead before you choose a holiday

Stovepipe · 13-06-2021 06:50PM

archer22 wrote: »

Yeah I find it strange that a lot of people think they are "friendly"...the reality is quite different, obnoxious is probably the best word to describe them.

We did a house swap with a Dutch family and had a great time. Lovely family and would happily go again. been there twice and really enjoyed it.

Is there any country you would not go to even if you were paid to go there?

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